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A Weekend in San Francisco

Besides international travelers, many people in the Western U.S. like to make a long weekend trip to San Francisco. We have had a timeshare there for over thirty years, and never "traded" the time because we love to visit San Francisco! The seven nights are usually taken in two trips per year. In those thirty years, we have gone from taking our young family to the various attractions, to checking out the scene as retirees, and finally planning to take our grandson to the City in the future. Each of the three days will focus on a different geographic area of San Francisco. Enjoy...and come back often!

bsimosd's City Tips

Although the City is relatively small geographically, because of the hills, you need to buy a 1, 3, or 7 day visitor passport at either the airport or any Walgren's. This allows you access to the buses, trams, street cars and - most importantly - the cable cars. Without the pass, each trip on a cable car will cost you $6! There is always something going on in the City on weekends, plus the regular attractions. You can Google beforehand websites which list activities for your dates, as well as for the standing attractions in town. The dining scene is outstanding, and you can save money by having lunch rather than dinner at those establishments which provide lunch as well. We love the views, especially from the lofty hotels on Nob Hill, the Ferry Landing, Fisherman's Wharf, a Bay cruise, or from Treasure Island.

Day 1

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Waterfront Restaurant and Cafe

Restaurants (American, Seafood, Soups)

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bsimosd Says:

This restaurant is recommended because of the view. During the day, you can see the Bay Bridge, Treasure Island, and the East Bay. For a real experience, eat at night and see the light show on the Bay Bridge...it is really neat, and the skyline lit up is also a treat.

This is Tourist Haven but, hey, you're on a vacation! Enjoy the chaos and kitschy souvenir shops. You get here by either taking a cable car (very hard to do unless you go out early), and you return via an old trolley along the Embarcadero. Walk over to Pier 39 and enjoy the stunning views from the end of the pier, to include the Golden Gate Bridge. Be sure to have seafood either at the wharf or on the pier. We like a meal at the Franciscan on the wharf...again because of the views.

These are great old trolleys from all over the world, and a nice easy way to see Market Street and The Embarcadero enroute to or from Fisherman's Wharf. It's a real step back in time, and fun. It also stops at the Ferry Building, if you have time to visit there.

You have to experience Chinatown, even though it caters to tourists just like Fisherman's Wharf. We always stop at Far East Café for lunch and request an enclosed booth...a very private way to dine and unique! This is one of the places where there may be special activities on the weekends.

Little Italy isn't real big, but it's nice to wander among the restaurants, Washington Park, and shops. It's kind of enroute to Coit Tower, and also close to Nob Hill. If you get hungry, the Stinking Rose serves nice Italian food. If you want to see a really offbeat musical, Beach Blanket Babylon is nearby in Club Fugazzi.

You can either take the bus here, or hike up the hill, for some magnificent views of the San Francisco Bay. This is an old WPA project, with some magnificent tile murals throughout. You have to pay (and wait) to go up in the tower, with the downstairs (free) actually pretty interesting by itself.

Nob Hill is another historical location, where the Big Four millionaires used to have their mansions before the Earthquake and Fire in 1906. This is a good walking trip to see the hotels that have replaced the mansions, and the Pacific Union Club which is the only remaining mansion standing. Grace Cathedral is also a venerable building located here. Go to the top of either the Fairmount or Mark Hopkins hotels to see some different and fabulous views of the Bay and Golden Gate Bridge. If you've had difficulty catching a cable car, hop on the California Street Cable car, which is a very short route between the Embarcadero and Van Ness, but rarely crowded.

This is next to Little Italy, and an interesting neighborhood to walk through while enroute to Coit Tower or Nob Hill or even Chinatown. There are lots of clubs and bars for an entertaining night scene.

This is an interesting street, which kind of epitomizes coping with the steep hills of San Francisco. The views are great, and zig-zagging down this street with homes on either side is impressive. The best way to get here is from the cable car to Fisherman's Wharf (be sure to take the one that goes to the Buena Vista Bar). Buses may also travel fairly close...this is a real hike otherwise.

This museum is most interesting if you like Natural History. If you are in the City on a Thursday night, you can enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of the museum which includes wine and appetizers. Although the price as I recall was relatively high, it was a once-in-a-lifetime tour...awesome! The grass roof is also interesting on the museum.

This former military base is still reinventing itself. It enjoys an excellent location with views to the Golden Gate Bridge, and has many old building converted to shops and commercial uses. This is an area where there are often special events taking place on the weekend. You need to take a bus to get her...it's a pretty far walk.

This museum usually features world-class art works on tour, and is worth the visit if you like art primarily. Check in your local guide to see what is featured before you visit. This museum is within walking distance of the Japanesel Gardens (interesting) and the Natural History Museum.

We take the tram and then a bus and then walk a ways to visit the iconic Clliff House Restaurant, at the west (ocean) end of Golden Gate Park. It is worth the effort to visit this restaurant for lunch. We splurge and eat at the fine dining restaurant, with a view over the Pacific and the seals basking on the rocks offshore. This is really special.

This is probably the starting point for all tours of The City. On almost every weekend there is artwork on display and for sale in the Square, and it is surrounded by hotels and retailers. The cable car to Fisherman's Wharf passes by on adjacent Powell Street. Most buses and trolleys also depart from this general area. And, of course, there are a multitude of nice restaurants in the immediate area...from upscale burgers to Mexican food at Sotano's on Powell Street to Roxanne's comfort food also on Powell to a memorable special dinner at Fleur de Lys.